Working Towards Merger Together

Abstract
Proposals for the merger of regular and special education have been the subject of considerable debate among special educators. This article briefly explores some of the major arguments of the debate and some of the barriers that make rational discussion of this issue difficult, including disagreements about the current situation, the tendency to become defensive of existing systems, and lack of a clear vision of what a merged system would look like. The article concludes with a strong plea for overcoming distrust and fear and using the insights of the mainstreaming movement in schools to inform and guide changes in teacher education that would promote merger.

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